Dimkoa · Public Domain Why visit
Layered hill fortress descending toward a compact fortified harbour on the Gulf of Corinth. Nafpaktos occupied a strategic harbour from antiquity and was heavily fortified by the Venetians, who called it Lepanto. The 1571 Battle of Lepanto took place in the wider gulf, and Ottoman and later Greek periods continued the town's military importance. The visit is strongest when you focus on castle walls, venetian harbour and gulf views.
What you will see
- Castle walls.
- Venetian harbour.
- Gulf views.
History
Nafpaktos occupied a strategic harbour from antiquity and was heavily fortified by the Venetians, who called it Lepanto. The 1571 Battle of Lepanto took place in the wider gulf, and Ottoman and later Greek periods continued the town's military importance.
Photographs
Dimkoa · Public Domain · full attribution on the image credits page.
Visitor tips
- 1
Prioritise Castle walls if you have less time than the full suggested visit.
- 2
Leave enough time for Venetian harbour rather than treating Nafpaktos Castle and Venetian Harbour as a quick photo stop.
About Western Greece
Olympia, Gulf of Corinth fortifications, Kalavryta mountain heritage and lagoon landscapes.
Open the Greece guide
